THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service." FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1948 WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF US?

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 3982, 16 April 1948, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY “Public Service." FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1948 WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF US?

New Zealand newspapers are to be delivered to Buckingham , Palace so that Their Majesties may acquire a background to current events before their departure on the visit to this L country and Australia early next year. What mental pictures have the King and Queen formed of conditions in New Zealand under the administration of a - Labour Government now in its , thirteenth year? Even more interesting is it to conjecture what young Princess Margaret thinks about us. Unlike the King and Queen, she has not already visited New Zealand, and her ideas about life here will be coloured ’by her general reading, conversations with our genial High Commissioner, Mr Jordan, and by innumerable short talks - with visitors such as the scien- - tists, educationists, journalists 1 and footballers who have been in Britain recently. Her Royal Highness has "many opportunities to say a few words with such visitors, and probably forms quick but abiding impressions. Always she listens attentively when the King and Queen, with pleasant memories of their 1927 visit, speak to New Zealanders. The “ God’s Own Country ” conception of this Dominion will probably have no place in the minds of the Royal Household after several weeks of newspaper reading, unless conditions improve beyond all expectation? How sour and rancid the news has become! Headline after headline tells of strife, discord' and discontent. Industrial unrest, motivated by only half-con-cealed Communistic interests, has a prominent place altogether disproportionate to the tiny minority of Communists active in our midst. Nor is much said about the overwhelming body of conscientious tradesmen and women who perform their daily tasks without fuss and bother. The same small but noisy and troublesome group of actors con- f stantly cross and recross the ** stage. But this might not be apparent ;o readers overseas. Their Majesties and the Princess could be pardoned for coming to the conclusion that ' New Zealand ives in a perpetual uproar, with scarcely anyone doing any work. Against this, the Royal readers will not fail to sense New Zeaand’s strong affection for Britain, our practical sympathy for ;he hard-pressed folk of the Homeland and our deep devotion to the Throne.